Immobilized reagent for the decontamination of halogenated organic compounds

Abstract

An immobilized reagent for the decontamination of fluids is described, consisting of a solid, carrier on which there are absorbed (a) polyethylene glycols, (b) alkali or alkaline-earth metal alcoholates.

We claim: 
     
       1. A device for use in the decontamination of a fluid containing halogenated organic compounds consisting of at least one column or cartridge, said column or cartridge containing an immobilized reagent which consists essentially of 40-90% of a solid, carrier from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline-earths metal carbonates and bicarbonates, said carrier having absorbed thereon 2.5-25% of component (a) which is (1) a polyethylene glycol of formula ##STR2## wherein X is >2 and n is an integer of 2 to 400: R is hydrogen, a straight or branched-chain C 1  -C 20  alkyl, aralkyl or acyl; R 1  and R 2  are the same or different and are hydrogen, straight or branched-chain alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by C 5  -C 8  cycloalkyl or aryl; or (2) a random copolymer of alkene oxides in different proportions; and (b) 0.5-15% of an alkali or alkaline earth metal C 1  -C 6  alcoholate, an inlet for said fluid, a sampling valve and an outlet for said fluid. 
     
     
       2. The device according to claim 1 wherein component (a) is a random copolymer of ethylene and propylene oxide. 
     
     
       3. The device according to claim 1 wherein the alcoholate is sodium methoxide or potassium tert-butylate. 
     
     
       4. The device according to claim 1 wherein said reagent has size ranging from 180 to 4000 micrometers. 
     
     
       5. The device according to claim 1 which comprises means for recirculating the fluid. 
     
     
       6. A device for use in the decontamination of a fluid containing halogenated organic compounds consisting of at least one column or cartridge, said column or cartridge containing an immobilized reagent which consists essentially of 40-90% of a solid, carrier from the group consisting of alkali and alkaline-earth metal carbonates and bicarbonates, said carrier having absorbed thereon 2.5-25% of component (a) which is: (1) a polyethylene glycol of formula ##STR3##  wherein X is >2 and n is an integer of 2 to 400; R is hydrogen, a straight or branched-chain C 1  -C 20  alkyl, aralkyl or acyl; R 1  and R 2  are the same or different and are hydrogen, straight or branched-chain alkyl, unsubstituted or substituted by C 5  -C 8  cycloalkyl or aryl; or   (2) a random copolymer of alkene oxides in different proportions; (b) 0.15-15% of an alkali or alkaline earth metal C 1  -C 6  alcoholate; and (c) as a source of radicals or as an oxidizing agent, a peroxide or a persalt in the amount up to 5% of said reagent, an inlet for said fluid, a sampling valve and an outlet for said fluid.